“Bubsy 4D” Review by Nick Navarro
Some mascots fade quietly into gaming history, but Bubsy somehow keeps finding ways to claw his way back. After the disaster that was the original “Bubsy 3D” (you can check out my review of “Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection” HERE), but somehow “Bubsy 4D” manages to turn that impossible task into something surprisingly alright. Developed by Fabraz and published by Atari, “Bubsy 4D” is the series’ first fully 3D outing in nearly thirty years, and while that history alone practically invites skepticism, I walked away from it more entertained than I expected. That doesn’t mean the game is secretly some overlooked platforming masterpiece, because it absolutely has issues, but there’s an undeniable charm to seeing this notoriously awkward mascot claw his way into modern gaming with something that at least feels playable, occasionally clever, and sometimes even genuinely fun.
Movement was something I was pleasantly surprised about. For all of the game’s shortcomings, controlling Bubsy can feel satisfying once his moveset opens up. He can jump, glide, climb walls, bounce off enemies, and most importantly, transform into a rolling hairball that immediately becomes the centerpiece of the experience. That focus on speed and movement is easily where “Bubsy 4D” shines brightest. The game almost feels built around gamers mastering traversal routes rather than traditional platforming challenges. Levels are loaded with yarn collectibles, hidden blueprints, alternate pathways, and shortcuts that reward experimentation. Once I started replaying stages for better times and cleaner runs, the game became significantly more enjoyable than it initially appeared during the opening levels. There’s a satisfying rhythm to chaining Bubsy’s abilities together when everything clicks.
Unfortunately, that strong movement system exists inside levels that often feel under baked. The environments span three alien planets with five stages each, but many areas feel overly simple and visually sparse. Large stretches of levels can feel empty, with basic geometry and repetitive platform arrangements that rarely evolve in meaningful ways. The craft-themed
aesthetic occasionally gives the worlds some personality, but it doesn’t fully compensate for how static the environments can feel. Enemy encounters are another weak point. The robotic BaaBots are visually amusing enough, but they rarely provide meaningful challenge or force you to engage with the game’s mechanics in interesting ways. Most enemies exist more as obstacles to casually bypass rather than threats that require strategy or precision. Boss fights at the end of each world fare slightly better thanks to their presentation, but even those encounters are fairly straightforward.
The difficulty overall is extremely low for most of the campaign. I never really felt pushed to master Bubsy’s mechanics during the main story itself, which makes the adventure feel surprisingly short and lightweight. If you’re looking for a deep or demanding 3D platformer, you probably won’t find much here outside of the optional Time Trial mode. That mode honestly carries a huge portion of the game’s replay value. Competing against online ghost runs and trying to optimize movement paths feels far more engaging than simply reaching the end credits. The controls also take some adjusting to. Bubsy’s movement can occasionally feel slippery, especially when transitioning between standard platforming and Hairball Mode. The camera sometimes struggles to keep up during faster sections too, leading to moments where judging jumps becomes more frustrating than it should be. There’s even an unlockable tank control option that references the original “Bubsy 3D,” which feels more like a joke aimed at longtime fans than something most players will genuinely want to use.
What I did really appreciate though, was the game’s self-awareness. “Bubsy 4D” knows exactly what reputation this series has carried for decades, and it leans into that history constantly. Bubsy breaks the fourth wall throughout the adventure, poking fun at himself, Atari, internet memes, and the general perception that orange cats aren’t exactly known for intelligence. Some jokes miss completely, but others genuinely landed for me because the game understands how absurd this entire comeback really is. The soundtrack deserves some credit as well. Fat Bard’s music gives the game a quirky personality through a mix of jazz, electro-swing, and upbeat big band influences that help the levels feel more energetic than their visual design
sometimes allows. Even when the environments themselves started blending together, the soundtrack kept the experience feeling lively.
What ultimately holds “Bubsy 4D” back is that it feels like a really solid movement system searching for a better game around it. Bubsy himself controls far better than expected, and there are flashes of a genuinely strong speed-focused platformer buried underneath the rough edges. But the simplistic level design, repetitive structure, limited challenge, and occasional camera frustrations stop it from becoming anything truly memorable. Still, considering the franchise’s history, this is probably the best Bubsy has ever been. That may sound like faint praise, but honestly, it’s more impressive than I expected. “Bubsy 4D” doesn’t fully reinvent the series, and it certainly won’t convert people who already hate the character, but I had more fun with it than I ever thought I would. For anyone who enjoy replaying levels for faster times and mastering movement mechanics, there’s enough here to make it worthwhile. Everyone else will probably see it as a short, messy, but oddly charming curiosity that never quite reaches its full potential.
6.5/10
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Related: Nick Navarro Reviews
Gaming since I was given an original Nintendo as a kid. I love great storytelling and unique ingenuity. When both collide in a single game, I'm a happy gamer. Twitter/IG @NickNavarro87
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